Wrong screen resolution?

English Hardware
1

I have just installed 11.3 from a Live Cd to the HD. All went well. I then installed the Nvidia driver , again all was well. After rebooting, my screen res is defaulting to 1024 x 768 @ 50 htz.
It should be 1280 x 1024 @ 75 htz. Whilst this is no big problem I would prefer the correct res and refresh rate.

Xrandr gives me this:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 50.0*
800x600 51.0 52.0 53.0
640x480 54.0
512x384 55.0
400x300 56.0 57.0 58.0
320x240 59.0

My Xorg.0.log

16.740]

X.Org X Server 1.8.0
Release Date: 2010-04-02
16.752] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
16.752] Build Operating System: openSUSE SUSE LINUX
16.752] Current Operating System: Linux linux-cmyn 2.6.34-12-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2010-06-29 02:39:08 +0200 x86_64
16.752] Kernel command line: root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-MAXTOR_STM380215A_9QZ4WTHS-part6 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-MAXTOR_STM380215A_9QZ4WTHS-part3 splash=silent quiet vga=0x31a
16.753] Build Date: 05 July 2010 09:27:36PM
16.753]
16.753] Current version of pixman: 0.18.0
16.753] Before reporting problems, check X.Org Wiki - Home
to make sure that you have the latest version.
16.753] Markers: (–) probed, () from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
16.753] (==) Log file: “/var/log/Xorg.0.log”, Time: Tue Nov 30 20:05:02 2010
16.753] (==) Using config directory: “/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d”
16.754] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
16.754] () |–>Screen “Default Screen” (0)
16.754] () | |–>Monitor “Default Monitor”
16.754] () | |–>Device “Default Device”
16.754] (==) Automatically adding devices
16.754] (==) Automatically enabling devices
16.754] (WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/TTF/” does not exist.
16.754] Entry deleted from font path.
16.754] (WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/OTF/” does not exist.
16.754] Entry deleted from font path.
16.754] (WW) The directory “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi” does not exist.
16.754] Entry deleted from font path.
16.754] (==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/Type1/,
/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/URW/,
/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/truetype/
16.754] (==) ModulePath set to “/usr/lib64/xorg/modules/updates,/usr/lib64/xorg/modules”
16.754] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
16.754] (II) Loader magic: 0x7d58a0
16.754] (II) Module ABI versions:
16.754] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
16.754] X.Org Video Driver: 7.0
16.754] X.Org XInput driver : 9.0
16.754] X.Org Server Extension : 3.0
16.761] (–) PCI:*(0:0:13:0) 10de:03d0:1019:2609 nVidia Corporation C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] rev 162, Mem @ 0xfb000000/16777216, 0xe0000000/268435456, 0xfc000000/16777216, BIOS @ 0x???/131072
16.761] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
16.761] (II) LoadModule: “extmod”
16.779] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
16.780] (II) Module extmod: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
16.780] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.0.0
16.780] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
16.780] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 3.0
16.780] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
16.780] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
16.780] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
16.780] (II) Loading extension DPMS
16.780] (II) Loading extension XVideo
16.780] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
16.780] (II) Loading extension X-Resource
16.780] (II) LoadModule: “dbe”
16.780] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
16.780] (II) Module dbe: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
16.780] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.0.0
16.780] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
16.780] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 3.0
16.780] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
16.780] (II) LoadModule: “glx”
16.781] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/updates/extensions/libglx.so
16.795] (II) Module glx: vendor=“NVIDIA Corporation”
16.795] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
16.795] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
16.795] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module 260.19.21 Thu Nov 4 21:42:11 PDT 2010
16.795] (II) Loading extension GLX
16.795] (II) LoadModule: “record”
16.796] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
16.796] (II) Module record: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
16.796] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.13.0
16.796] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
16.796] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 3.0
16.796] (II) Loading extension RECORD
16.796] (II) LoadModule: “dri”
16.797] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
16.797] (II) Module dri: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
16.797] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.0.0
16.797] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 3.0
16.797] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
16.797] (II) LoadModule: “dri2”
16.797] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
16.797] (II) Module dri2: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
16.797] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.2.0
16.798] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 3.0
16.798] (II) Loading extension DRI2
16.798] (==) Matched nvidia as autoconfigured driver 0
16.798] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 1
16.798] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 2
16.798] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 3
16.798] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
16.798] (II) LoadModule: “nvidia”
16.798] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/updates/drivers/nvidia_drv.so
16.798] (II) Module nvidia: vendor=“NVIDIA Corporation”
16.798] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
16.798] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
17.557] (II) LoadModule: “nouveau”
17.559] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
17.559] (II) Module nouveau: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
17.559] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 0.0.15
17.559] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
17.559] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 7.0
17.559] (II) LoadModule: “fbdev”
17.561] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so
17.561] (II) Module fbdev: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
17.561] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 0.4.1
17.561] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 7.0
17.561] (II) LoadModule: “vesa”
17.563] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so
17.563] (II) Module vesa: vendor=“X.Org Foundation”
17.563] compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 2.2.1
17.563] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
17.563] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 7.0
17.563] (II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 260.19.21 Thu Nov 4 21:18:43 PDT 2010
17.563] (II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
17.563] (II) NOUVEAU driver
17.563] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
17.563] RIVA TNT (NV04)
17.563] RIVA TNT2 (NV05)
17.563] GeForce 256 (NV10)
17.563] GeForce 2 (NV11, NV15)
17.563] GeForce 4MX (NV17, NV18)
17.563] GeForce 3 (NV20)
17.563] GeForce 4Ti (NV25, NV28)
17.563] GeForce FX (NV3x)
17.563] GeForce 6 (NV4x)
17.563] GeForce 7 (G7x)
17.563] GeForce 8 (G8x)
17.563] (II) FBDEV: driver for framebuffer: fbdev
17.563] (II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa
17.563] (++) using VT number 7

17.576] (II) Primary Device is: PCI 00@00:0d:0
17.577] (II) Loading sub module "fb"
17.577] (II) LoadModule: "fb"
17.579] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/libfb.so
17.579] (II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
17.579] 	compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.0.0
17.579] 	ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
17.579] (II) Loading sub module "wfb"
17.579] (II) LoadModule: "wfb"
17.580] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/libwfb.so
17.580] (II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
17.580] 	compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 1.0.0
17.580] 	ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
17.580] (II) Loading sub module "ramdac"
17.580] (II) LoadModule: "ramdac"
17.580] (II) Module "ramdac" already built-in
17.581] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev
17.581] (II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw"
17.581] (II) LoadModule: "fbdevhw"
17.581] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/linux/libfbdevhw.so
17.581] (II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
17.581] 	compiled for 1.8.0, module version = 0.0.2
17.581] 	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 7.0
17.581] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
17.581] (II) NVIDIA(0): Creating default Display subsection in Screen section
"Default Screen" for depth/fbbpp 24/32
17.581] (==) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32
17.581] (==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
17.581] (==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
17.581] (==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
17.582] (**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
17.582] (II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
17.582] (II) NVIDIA(0):     enabled.
17.961] (WW) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-0
17.962] (II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 (C61) at PCI:0:13:0
17.962] (II) NVIDIA(0):     (GPU-0)
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0): Memory: 524288 kBytes
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 05.61.32.20.01
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 at
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0):     PCI:0:13:0
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0):     CRT-0
17.962] (--) NVIDIA(0): CRT-0: 350.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
17.963] (II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: CRT-0
17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0): 
17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0): No modes were requested; the default mode "nvidia-auto-select"
17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0):     will be used as the requested mode.
17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0): 
17.963] (II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
17.963] (II) NVIDIA(0):     "nvidia-auto-select"
17.963] (II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1024 x 768
17.963] (WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device CRT-0's EDID; cannot compute DPI
17.963] (WW) NVIDIA(0):     from CRT-0's EDID.
17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default
17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0): Enabling 32-bit ARGB GLX visuals.
17.963] (II) UnloadModule: "nouveau"
17.963] (II) Unloading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
17.963] (II) UnloadModule: "fbdev"
17.963] (II) Unloading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so
17.963] (II) UnloadModule: "fbdevhw"
17.963] (II) Unloading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/linux/libfbdevhw.so
17.963] (II) UnloadModule: "vesa"
17.963] (II) Unloading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so
17.963] (--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp
17.964] (II) NVIDIA(0): Initialized GPU GART.
17.967] (II) NVIDIA(0): Setting mode "nvidia-auto-select"
18.055] (II) Loading extension NV-GLX
18.077] (II) NVIDIA(0): Initialized OpenGL Acceleration
18.079] (==) NVIDIA(0): Disabling shared memory pixmaps
18.079] (II) NVIDIA(0): Initialized X Rendering Acceleration
18.079] (==) NVIDIA(0): Backing store disabled
18.079] (==) NVIDIA(0): Silken mouse enabled
18.079] (==) NVIDIA(0): DPMS enabled
18.079] (II) Loading extension NV-CONTROL
18.080] (II) Loading extension XINERAMA
18.080] (II) Loading sub module "dri2"
18.080] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
18.080] (II) Reloading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
18.080] (II) NVIDIA(0): [DRI2] Setup complete
18.080] (==) RandR enabled
18.080] (II) Initializing built-in extension Generic Event Extension
18.080] (II) Initializing built-in extension SHAPE
18.080] (II) Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
18.080] (II) Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension XTEST
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension BIG-REQUESTS
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension SYNC
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension XC-MISC
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension XFIXES
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension RENDER
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension RANDR
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension COMPOSITE
18.081] (II) Initializing built-in extension DAMAGE
18.084] (II) Initializing extension GLX
18.136] (II) XKB: reuse xkmfile /var/lib/xkb/compiled/server-8AA988DD479FAABEC4FC3CCCF4CC29B4948840B4.xkm

18.170] (EE) No input driver/identifier specified (ignoring)
18.170] (II) config/udev: Adding input device PC Speaker (/dev/input/event4)
18.170] (EE) No input driver/identifier specified (ignoring)

I seem to remember when I was using 10.3 I could alter the screen size/res and refresh rate . However, I cannot find this on 11.3.
Can anyone help me with this please.

I have just noticed that my sound works when booting and at shut down but when I use Youtube my sound is not working. I am using Ff 3.6 .

As always, all help will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Eddie.

2

For the sound check the PCM channel on the mixer.

For the screen resolution try to set the desired one from the nvidia-settings utility (I have long ago changed to ATI cards and they are playing natively with the open source drivers, that suits my needs).

3

elksi, thankyou for your reply. Sound is now working, PCM was set to zero.

The only Nvidia setting I can find is the Nvidia server setting and that shows my monitor as CRT, which is wrong. My monitor is a GNR TG700H.

I haven’t used Suse for a couple of years, the last being 10.3 and as previously stated I seemed to be able to change my monitor settings quite easily.

cheers,
Eddie.

4

It would appear from searching this forum that my problem re- screen res is common. But as I have an onboard video card I guess I’ll just have to grin and bear it.

cheers,
Eddie

5

See if anything in this thread helps:

Nvidia Resolution on Suse 11.3

6

deano_ferrari. Thankyou for your reply. I have three selections in the Bios. I tried all three but alas, to no avail.
cheers,
Eddie.

7

dened wrote:

>
> elksi, thankyou for your reply. Sound is now working, PCM was set to
> zero.
>
> The only Nvidia setting I can find is the Nvidia server setting and
> that shows my monitor as CRT, which is wrong. My monitor is a GNR
> TG700H.
>
> I haven’t used Suse for a couple of years, the last being 10.3 and as
> previously stated I seemed to be able to change my monitor settings
> quite easily.
>
> cheers,
> Eddie.
>
nvidia-settings should start from /usr/bin/. Should have installed when
installing driver from nvidia repo or direct from nvidia and using the
hardway.

–
Russ
openSUSE 11.3 (2.6.34.7-0.5-default)|KDE 4.5.3 Release 10|
Intel core2duo 2.5 MHZ,|4GB DDR3|GeForce 8400GS

8

On Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:17:58 +0530, upscope <upscope@nwi.net> wrote:

> nvidia-settings should start from /usr/bin/. Should have installed when
> installing driver from nvidia repo or direct from nvidia and using the
> hardway.

when i was using nvidia repo a while ago, nvidia-settings was not
installed by default; after reading about it, i had to search it in yast
and install it separately. it is included with the .run file from nvidia,
though.

–
phani.

9

deano_ferrari. Thankyou for your reply. I have three selections in the Bios. I tried all three but alas, to no avail.
cheers,
Eddie.

The thread contains suggestions about options you can add to Xorg configuration files (located in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/) to assist with getting a higher display resolution, for example kalli_fin’s last post. You need to read it from the beginning. There are many threads dealing with nvidia and display resolutions if you care to search. Good luck.

10

AFAIK the driver names anything connected to the analog VGA output as CRT, as VGA is from the time when all monitors were analog, i.e., CRT.

If you connect your monitor to a DVI or HDMI output in the video card your monitor will be named TFT or LCD or something like that. This is seen most in laptops, which integrated screen is connected through an internal DVI (-like) port.

But it should make no difference in how your monitor capabilities are detected. EDID problem, perhaps?

11

Nvidia was/is installed as per your tip.

Many thanks,
Eddie

12

Thankyou for that, I was wondering why it would be getting it wrong.
cheers,
Eddie.

13

Its definitely an EDID issue based on the Xorg.0.log output

(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to get display device CRT-0's EDID; cannot compute DPI
 17.963] (WW) NVIDIA(0): from CRT-0's EDID.
 17.963] (==) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default
14

deano, I have read through a lot of threads re this prob, I always do before posing a question. Based on what I have read and taking yours and the other suggestions onboard. I think I have reached my level of expertise, Linux wise.
So, I would like to thank one and all for the help offered. I will pass by again in a year or so and see what is on offer.

cheers,
Eddie.

15

Hi Eddie,

I just dropped in this thread, and I see from the Xorg log file, that nouveau is still (at least tried to get) loaded. Wrong !!!
Here’s a couple of things you should do:

  • In Yast - System - Sysconfigeditor, search for KMS, set the value for NO_KMS_IN_INITRD to yes
  • Add ‘blacklist nouveau’ to /etc/modprobe.d/50-blacklist.conf
  • Now, just to make sure, reboot with ‘init 3’ on the options line, reinstall the downloaded driver.

BTW: which NVIDIA card, which driver version did you download.

16

Hi, Thankyou for your tips.
No kms in etc is already installed.
I tried to blacklist but can’t do it.
I don’t know how to boot into level 3.
Driver = NVIDIA 260.19.21

To explain: I am retired ( 65 ) and my favourite saying is," I have nothing to do and all day to do it in". This gives me time to play around with operating systems.
I visit Suse every 12 months or so. I have been playing with comps for 25 yrs although I have no programming knowledge other than batch files and config.sys which amounts to zilch!.
I first saw Linux about 17 yrs ago when it was really hard! About that time BEOS came along and Linux went out the door.
I currently run Vista which contrary to popular belief ( of the masses ) is a very fast and stable O/S. However, I am concerned re-security and to that point am considering going over to Suse 64 bit.
Before trying your points out I connected an old Compaq 1501 lcd monitor up and reinstalled 11.3.( I spent a couple of hours installing 11.4 64 bit and 11.3 32 bit to see if the previous GNR monitor would be picked up), answer no difference.
I then saw your tips and that is where I am as of now.
I have checked the xrandr and nothing has changed and the Monitor is still not being picked up. So I believe from what all you guys are saying is I need to tell the Xorg what sort of monitor is there. But, this is a tad to much for my very limited knowledge.
I hope this is not too confusing .
cheers,
Eddie.

17

I don’t know how to boot into level 3.

At the grub screen, you just type ‘3’, then hit enter. This will boot into runlevel 3. You’ll get the console login prompt. Alternatively, this runlevel can be reached from the desktop, simply by opening a terminal window, and typing ‘su -’ to become root (enter root password when prompted), then ‘init 3’.

I have checked the xrandr and nothing has changed and the Monitor is still not being picked up. So I believe from what all you guys are saying is I need to tell the Xorg what sort of monitor is there. But, this is a tad to much for my very limited knowledge.

You’ve done well with answering questions and supplying the required info - your good working knowledge of Linux shows. You are correct about Xorg not getting the required EDID info from your monitor, and so it plays safe with your hardware. There are some steps that can be taken to overcome this, but not everyone will be up for this (and I can completely understand this stance). Some of these diagnostic and configuration exercises are not every day tasks, so they can be confusing and/or tedious for many of us. I tend to put these things in a notebook for future reference, otherwise I end up reinventing the wheel over and over again :slight_smile:

So, I think you could cope with editing the Xorg config files (just a few simple entries required) so that your display resolution is improved. Its just a question of whether you want to proceed (ie is it worth the effort to you). Your choice, let us know.

18

deano, I will, if I my take up your offer of help. I have spent the last hour or so trying to alter my 50-monitor-conf with my cvt output.
(# 1280x1040 59.95 Hz (CVT) hsync: 64.69 kHz; pclk: 110.75 MHz
Modeline “1280x1040_60.00” 110.75 1280 1368 1496 1712 1040 1043 1053 1079 -hsync +vsync). I logged in as Root using the su command and navigated to the above file. I CnP the cvt output but when it came to saving it refused. Something about not being able to make a backup ?
( As an aside to this, It was most enjoyable pushing back the cobwebs trying to remember how to navigate the file system ).
If I may ask a question: The Suse 11.3 64 bit installation was from a Live cd, would this affect anything re-saving etc?
dheers,
Eddie

19

You could try to create /etc/xorg.conf file - nvidia-settings will make one for you - and add the modeline there. If it exists, it will take precedence over the small conf files. If it doesn’t work you can simply delete (or rename) it, to revert to the previous state.

20

If I may ask a question: The Suse 11.3 64 bit installation was from a Live cd, would this affect anything re-saving etc?

No.

To edit system files from within a GUI environment, you can type the following from a terminal window

kdesu kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-monitor.conf

If using Gnome, type

gnomesu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-monitor.conf

Uncomment the ‘#HorizSync 28-85’ and ‘VertRefresh 50-100’ lines, and add the preferred resolution like this

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier "Default Monitor"

  ## If your monitor doesn't support DDC you may override the
  ## defaults here
  HorizSync 28-85
  VertRefresh 50-100
  Option "PreferredMode" "1280x1024"
  ## Add your mode lines here, use e.g the cvt tool

EndSection

I’m a little confused by your modeline though. Your OP mentioned ‘1280x1024@75Hz’ rather than ‘1280x1040@60Hz’. Make sure you use a display mode supported by your monitor.

You can use the gtf utility to generate a suitable modeline. For example

dean@linux:~> gtf 1280 1024 75

# 1280x1024 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 80.17 kHz; pclk: 138.54 MHz
Modeline "1280x1024_75.00" 138.54 1280 1368 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1069 -HSync +Vsync

This can be entred into 50-monitor.conf, (or you can create a minimal /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and put this monitor section in that instead).

When finished editing, save, then restart the X-server with CTRL-ALT-Backspace (twice).